Kiper says Maehl is late-round selection in NFL Draft

The NFL lockout is a mess. Wealthy players constantly haggling with even richer owners over issues such as benefits for retired players, stretching the season to 18 games and so on, makes for a very real possibility that the NFL's first work stoppage since 1987 will continue through the fall.

The league's future, however, which ironically stands to suffer the biggest drawback if the lockout merges into summer workouts, is going about business as usual, beginning with the NFL Draft that commences a week from today and runs through next Saturday.

Hundreds of college standouts are on the dawn of a new career, including Paradise High School product and former University of Oregon standout wide receiver Jeff Maehl.

Regardless of whether or not there is a season, Maehl, a 2007 Paradise graduate, will be drafted next weekend. It's a subjective process with countless variables coming into play, but according to ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr., the former Bobcat will be selected on Saturday April 30.

"He' s a day three pick so (on) day three it depends on who is looking for that fourth, fifth receiver (and) a guy to help you on special teams," Kiper said via the final media pre-draft conference call yesterday. "It's not about fit, its about who's going to be thinking he's worthy enough from where he's ranked on their receiver board to be a guy that they have a spot for as a fourth or fifth option at wide receiver."

While Maehl's 33 1/2-inch vertical leap and 4.56 40-yard dash accrued during the combine and pro day workouts didn't quite measure up to elite receivers Julio Jones of Alabama and Georgia standout A.J. Green - both of whom most mock drafts agree are guaranteed first-round selections - Kiper says Maehl has other intangibles that make him a prospect on Saturday.

"He's in the mix with a lot of decent players. We're talking about 50 (maybe) 60 draftable entities," he said. "You look at Maehl, you think about what he did at Oregon ... clutch receiver, wants the football thrown his way, makes good adjustments on the move. I thought he was a heck of a player at Oregon (and) one of the MVPs and reasons they were playing in the national championship game."

But Kiper said a number of players had stellar college careers.

"Ryan Whalen of Stanford - 38 1/2 vertical, ran a 4.53 - and he had a really nice career in the PAC-10," he said. "Ryan Whalen's numbers are better (than Maehl's) and Ryan Whalen is projected to be a fifth- to seventh-round pick."

At that point in the draft it's about selecting the best available player, Kiper said.

"When you are in the fifth, sixth round it's about who has a spot for a fourth (or) fifth receiver," Kiper said. "You are not talking about a lead guy, a second (or) third option, you are talking about a fourth, fifth receiver. If he was a third-round pick you'd say (a) specific team could maybe look at him (but) I can't tell you in the fifth, sixth round who is going to be looking at Jeff Maehl."

But the point is, Maehl has been scouted, reviewed and scrutinized up to this point. In a year swirling with uncertainty about so many other issues, the former Bobcat has to like his chances next weekend.

And so does Paradise.

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To listen to the full conference call with Kiper, visit http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/conference-calls/